When Courtney Blackwell perused the list, she didn’t recognize any of the other schools.
Indeed, the Whiting pitcher was the only Region athlete announced last week as a recipient of a Cato Memorial Scholarship.
The award, which includes $2,500, recognized 13 seniors statewide described as “well-rounded, positive role models” who “have demonstrated excellence in academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship and citizenship.”
Blackwell is Whiting’s valedictorian and in her third season as the Oilers’ ace. She participates in an array of extracurricular activities.
“It was really exciting to win that award,” Blackwell said. “It’s a big honor.”
Oilers coach Kelly Morando knows Blackwell was fully deserving.
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“She has the rigor of her classes — AP classes and dual-credit classes — to keep up with, and the rigor she puts on herself with athletics in softball as well as volleyball,” Morando said. “She’s a good leader and very vocal.
“She expects a lot from herself and from her teammates, and she wants them to succeed as well.”
After initially signing with St. Joseph’s, Blackwell committed in early March to Purdue Northwest. She plans to study biology with a concentration in health sciences, intending to become a physical or occupational therapist.
“It was devastating to hear about St. Joe, but everything happens for a reason,” Blackwell said. “I’m excited about PNW — I like the coach, the girls on the team, it’s close to home. I found everything I wanted in a school.”
Blackwell last season led the Oilers to their first sectional title since 2010, going 12-6 with a 1.14 ERA as a pitcher and hitting .534 with 25 RBIs. She continues to have to manage a chronic left knee condition, one that sidelined her late in her sophomore season, including the sectionals.
But it certainly doesn’t prevent her from continuing to impress Morando, who’s in her second season as coach after six as an assistant for Paul Laub.
“She is the quintessential softball player,” Morando said. “She plays year-round — she eats, breathes, lives it. She’s every coach’s dream with her commitment.
“She’s one of the hardest-working players I’ve seen. She does everything at full-game pace. I’ve never seen her slack off in practice — unless she’s hurting, she’s 100 percent go all the time. She just has that work ethic.”
Changing up: LaPorte coach Bob Severs offered high praise for Notre Dame recruit Alexis Holloway after the Crown Point senior outdueled Slicers senior and Western Michigan recruit Reily Galloway. Holloway tossed a three-hitter Wednesday with 10 strikeouts as the Bulldogs won 7-0.
“If you keep throwing the fastball over and over again, people catch up to it,” Severs said. “But if you have a good change-up, you have them screwed into the ground. She’s every bit as good as Miranda Elish, not to take anything away from her — I just watched her beat UCLA.
“Both Reily and her (Holloway), the ball is on top of you before you know it — it’s scary. You add a dynamite changeup and you don’t know if it’s ketchup or mustard.”
Flawless work: Marquette junior Lauren McConnell pitched a perfect game Tuesday at Covenant Christian as the Blazers won 10-0 in six innings.
McConnell, who committed in February to Fort Wayne, had 14 strikeouts. She struck out eight of the last nine batters.
In the sixth, she got a comebacker for the first out, a strikeout looking for the second and a strikeout swinging to complete the perfect game.
Bishop Noll senior Ashley Gordish pitched a no-hitter Thursday as the Warriors beat Lake Station 12-0 in five innings. The Purdue recruit had one walk and four strikeouts.
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff
TOP 10
With records through Friday, based on results reported to the Post-Tribune, and last week’s rankings in parentheses. Please report results to [email protected].
1. Crown Point 7-0 (1)
2. Hanover Central 7-0 (3)
3. Lake Central 7-2 (5)
4. Munster 4-5 (4)
5. Andrean 4-1 (10)
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6. LaPorte 6-1 (7)
7. Chesterton 6-4 (6)
8. Boone Grove 4-0 (8)
9. Bishop Noll 6-0 (9)
10. Kankakee Valley 3-3 (2)
Player of the Week: Hailey Boylan went 3-for-3 with three RBIs Wednesday as Lowell edged Munster 5-4.